Hulk Hogan sported a crimson mask of blood as he was escorted by pal Brian Knobs after being attacked by his wrestling rival, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, during a news conference in Sydney, Australia on Wednesday.

The event was to promote his upcoming wrestling tour, Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin. The hysteria erupted as the pair of wrestling legends traded barbs at the pulpit to hype the upcoming shows. When Hogan turned his head way from Flair — who is aptly nicknamed “The dirtiest player in the game” — Flair laid a cheap shot in on the 56-year-old reality TV star, before getting in a few jabs once the Hulkster was down.

Hogan will have a chance of revenge when he dusts off his yellow and red wrestling gear for the tour, which begins Nov. 24 in Melbourne. Other notable wrestlers scheduled for action on the tour are Diamond Dallas Page, and some of the Hulkster’s Hogan Knows Best cronies Brutus Beefcake and The Nasty Boys as well as Rikishi, Umaga and Val Venis.

Flair, 60, is wrestling for the first time since losing a much ballyhooed “retirement” match for WWE in March 2008, which drew more than 74,000 fans to Florida’s Citrus Bowl. We don’t think WWE owner Vince McMahon can be too thrilled about Flair’s swift — and lucrative — return to action.